Tape-controlling device.



A. H. DE VOE TAPE CONTROLLING DEVlCE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1917.

1,267,520.. Patented May 28,1918.

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ALBERT H. DE VOE, 0F WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE'NEW JERSEY.

TAPE-CONTROLLING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed July 16, 1917. Serial No. 180,753.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. DE Von, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tape-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings;

This invention relates to a tape controlling device for use in conjunction with sewing machines.

In applying knit bindings especially bias cut bindings to the edge of body-fabrics it is desirable to maintain a uniform tension of a small amount on the binding and to prevent the edges of the binding from curling or roping during the applicationof the binding to the fabric. It is the object of this invention to provide a tape or binding controlling device for maintaining the binding fiat and applying a uniform tension on the binding as it unwinds from a roll.

Briefly the construction comprises an axial supporting pin for tape wound in the form of a roll and carried by hinged arms which are so arranged that the periphery of the roll is constantly held in contact with the receiving end of a strip-guide which is movable with one of the arms and with an abutment fixed to the frame, the idea being to let the size of the roll of tape as it diminishes control the tension on the tape and to make the roll of tape move up to the receiving end of the strip-guide so as notto allow the edges of the strip to curl,

In'the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine and Fig. 2 a plan view with the invention shown applied thereto in working relation.

The tape controlling device is shown as it appears applied to a chain-stltch machine but it will be manifest the character of the stitch-forming mechanism may be varied as desired.

Sunk below the upper surface of the clothplate 1 is a binder 2 of well known form having edge folding portions 3 and a curved fan-tailed receiving portion 4t. crossed by a retaining strap 5. The binder is supported in any suitable manner with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the line of feed being inclined only slightly downward from its receiving to its delivery end. v

From the receiving end of the binder 2 a strip-guide 6 extends in the direction of the length of the machine to a point remote from the needles whereitsreceiving end is located well out of the operatives way. The strip-guide 6 is set on edge, that is, its fiat tubular body lies in a substantially vertical plane at right angles to the cloth-plate. Intermediate the ends of the strip-guide and below thethreading slot 7 therein is soldered or otherwise suitably fixed a clip angle 8 slotted at 9 to permitof acljustably securing the strip-guide to an arm 10. Adjacent the receiving end of the binder 2 the arm 10 has ears l1 pierced to receive the vertically extending pivot pin 12 fixedly secured in any suitable manner in a bracket 13-which is adjustably secured by a stud-screw 14 and a slot and screw connection 15 to the front apron 16 of the cloth-plate 1. I

To the free end of arm 10 a second arm 16, conveniently termed a forearm, is. pivoted as clearly shown at 17. 16 is shorter thanthe main arm 10 and at its free end in a socket 18 removably carries the vertically extending pin 19 and flange 2O axially supporting a roll of tape or binding 21.

Fixed to the machine frame in any suitable manner as by screws 22 is an abutment 23 having a face, preferably but not necessarily flat, against which the periphery of the roll of tape tangentially bears whatever may be the size of the roll.

The receiving end 24 of the strip-guide is defined by rolled or rounded edges facilitating passage of the strip into the guide especially when the strip is cut on the bias and consequently easily distended.

Springs 25 are coiled around the pivots 12 and 17 respectively with one end bearing on the main arm 10 and the other end fitted v in the collars 26 fixedly but adjustably secured by the screws 27 to the pivot pins. These springs 25 normally move the free ends of the main arm and forearm in inter- The forearm FRI secting arcs and cause the axial supporting pin 19 for the tape-roll to more in a path between and diagonally of the face of the abutment '23, and of the path of the receiving end 2% of the strip guide.

From the foregoing description taken in conjui'iction with' thedrawings it will be apparent that the spriiigs25 will urge the arms in such wise that the tape will be maintained constantly in contact with therecei ing end of the strip-guide and also withthe abutment thereby lteepingthe edges ofthe tape from curling. It will also be obvious that the coiled springs 25 exert a decreasing force and consequently allow the tape to unwind against less friction asv the size of the roll decreases and consequently demands greater pull to unwind the tape. The decreasing friction compensates for the'decreasing mechanical advantage of unwinding anda substantially uniform tension is placed upon the 't'apeorbinding at all times.

The adjustment afforded by theslot and screws ll and 15 of the bracket 13 pcrmits of locating the axis of the strip-guide in alineinent with the axis of thebinder so that the small tension which is uniformly placed upon the-tape will be equally applied to the edges of'the tape;

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In a device for coi'itrolling tape-as it is supplied to sewing machines, in combination, a strip-guide, an abutment to one side of said strip-guide, a tape-roll, a taperoll 'supportinovably controlled by the size "of the tape-roll to maintain the periphery of the roll in contact with the receiving end of said strip-guide and with the abutment wherebythe edges of the tape are prevented from curlin z,

, '2'. In a device for controlling tape as it is supplied to sewing machines, in combinatio'ina strip-guide pivoted at its delivery end and free to more in a circular path at its receiving end, an abutment to one side of the delivery endof the strip-guide, a tape roll, a tape-roll support and means for mow 'ing the support carrying the tape-roll diagonally in a path between the abutment and the circular path of movement of the delivery end of the strip-guide whereby a subst-antially constant tension may be pplied to the tape.

3. A device for controlling tape as it is supplied to sewing machines, in combination, an abutment, a binder, a strip-guide pivotedv at its delivery end adjacent the receiving end of said binder with its free end movable toward and from the abutment, a roll of tape,'an axial support for said roll of tape, an arm carrying said axial support and'movably connected to the'piroted st'rip guide, and means controlled by the size of the roll of tape for maintaining the periphery of the roll in contact with the receiving end of the strip-guide and with the abutment as the roll unwinds.

I. In a device for controlling tape as it is supplied to sewing machines, in combinatioii, a blnder, a strip-guide, an abutment, a

roll of t'a'pe, an aXial support fOr'sa'idiOll oftape, aforearin carrying said axial support, a. pivoted main arm supporting said strip-"guide and forearm, said forearm being articulated to said main arm andresilient means for moving said main and foreai'nis as the roll of tape unwinds whereby its periphery may be held constantly in contact with the abutmentand with the receiving end of the strip gnide.

5. In a sewing machine, in combination,

a binder having its longitudinal axis arneously urging said support on the arm bodily towardthereceiying end of the stripguide.

6. In a sewing machine, in combination, a binder a strip-gniddan abutmcnt,a taperoll, a tape-roll support movably controlled by the tape-roll to maintain the periphery of the tape-roll in contact with the abutment and withthereceiying end of the strip guide, said means including a common supportingarnna vertically arrangedpivot for one end of said arm and 'means'for tilting. the pivot for said arm in a Vertical plane whereby the axes of the binder and of the strip-guide may be arranged to intersect.

T. In a sewing'machine, in combinatioma binder, a strip-guide, a fixed abutment ga tape-roll, an axial supportfor said-t'ape-roll, means for moving said axial support to maintain theperiphery of the tape-roll -constantly in contact with the abutment and with the receiving en'd of said strip-guide,

said means including a pivoted bracket support, and means for maintaining the periphery of the tape-roll in contact with the receiving end of said strip-guide and with the abutment whereby the edges 'ofa tape are prevented from curling.

9. In a dev1ce for controlling bias cut l L'Yi knit binding as it is supplied to sewing machines, in combination, a binder having a U-shaped folding portion, a roll of tape, a tape-roll support, an abutment having a face which is straight in vertical directions and of a vertical length at least equal to the width of the widest binding to be handled, means between said U-shaped folding portion of the binder and the tape-roll for maintaining the binding fiat, and means controlled 10 In testimony whereof, I have signed my 15 name to this specification.

ALBERT H. .DE VOE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

